Canadiens' Eller on new contract: 'I know the more money you make, the more pressure there’s going to be'

Thomas Drance
August 24, 2014 9:03pm

Montreal Canadiens checking center Lars Eller signed a new four-year, $14 million contract this summer. While the Danish-born pivot is looking forward to his hockey future in Montreal, he also appears to have learned the lesson taught widely in the mid-90s by Mase, Biggy and Puffy: "mo' money, mo' problems."

"I know the more money you make, the more pressure there’s going to be from the fans and the higher the expectations are going to be," Eller said this weekend, per Pro Hockey Talk. "I always have a high expectation of myself. It’s not something I really think about. I’m just happy I’m set for the next four years."

This summer the Canadiens lost a handful of core veterans in Josh Gorges, Thomas Vanek and (now former) captain Brian Gionta; but since the Canadiens are one of the best teams at the draft table, there's plenty of young talent in the pipeline. Eller's excited to see it congeal going forward.

"I’m very excited for the future and I hope the organization is as well," explained Eller. "New groups are going to be formed and it’s going to happen sooner or later. It’s going to be fun to see where this team is going to be heading."